Inequality in America The big question: Should equality—economic or political—matter very much? Why are economic and political resources in America so unevenly divided? http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/07/5-facts-about-economic-inequality/: Despite what Robert Reich says, we’ve always had quite a lot of economic income inequality in the US. US is unusually unequal relative to other well of countries. Looking at income by race, there is considerable evidence that political and social inequality replicates itself over time. When you look at the data on race, ask yourself what would happen if a business displayed this patter? Wealth inequality is more unevenly distributed than income inequality? When is severe inequality in wealth ok? When should we ask hard questions? Conservative and libertarian arguments on liberty; these folks vs. Robert Reich on the relationship between redistribution and growth John Rawls and thinking about the Indian model: What’s better if you have to choose---low growth + low inequality or high growth + high inequality Class mobility, race/gender issues, and the relationship between wealth and political power

SHOULD WE CARE THAT SOME PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS WHILE MANY DO NOT? Should lots of every day people be involved in politics? Why didn’t our Founders… or Plato… or Aristotle think so? Do people know enough to participate? Are people capable of looking at the long-term, common good? Do the well off have more “skin in the game”? What about taxes and tipping points? Leftist cynics: Losing your money at the slot machine vs. losing it in the parking lot. Is “republicanism” (indirect democracy) the equivalent of a slot machine? Legitimacy and signaling: If one party wins 60 percent of the vote and 75 percent turned out, what is the mandate? Look at the overall track-record of democratic societies on liberties and human rights: the more democratic and participatory the system is, the better off we all are.

What is political participation? What is a “political” activity? What do political scientists measure when looking at participation Your readings: Votes, time, dollars, knowledge & civic skills Think about the First Amendment’s priorities vs. what it says about voting Participation in democratic vs. totalitarian vs. authoritarian systems? Is there that big of a difference? What is the purpose of political activity? How much is necessary? What types matter most? Do you really have to get involved in formal politics or can you virtually be engaged? Is “violence” a form of “political” participation? What about law breaking that can be characterized as civil disobedience? Does non-participation in politics count as participation… If it’s done on purpose Most Americans don’t participate regularly, even in voting, but is that a really problem? Big question 1: Do voters and non voters mostly look alike? Big question 2: Do non-voters want different things? (more on both in a minute) Big question 3: How much choice are the most powerful and wealthy in our society exercising before any of us have a chance to vote or participate in the selection of candidates

WHERE DOES THE MEASUREMENT OF POLITICAL OPINION FIT INTO participation WHERE DOES THE MEASUREMENT OF POLITICAL OPINION FIT INTO participation? An IMPORTANT SIDE LESSON Are polls and surveys a type (or substitute) for participation? What about deliberative polling? An important aside because you need to know the basics about polling and poll aggregation: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/ What does a poll mean when it says “RV” or “LV” in front of it? How do they work anyway? What’s random sampling? Sampling error… What do those qualifying numbers mean? (example: Trump Approval 43% , +/- 3% , pr. <.05). Take a look at a Galton board: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03tx4v0i7MA What is stratified sampling? Why are sub-population statistics a problem unless there is oversampling or at least weighted sampling? Sources of survey bias… And how do you deal with it.

Findings from 2013 research by Page and Bartels Study of Millionaires (N=83)

Findings from 2013 research by Page and Bartels Study of Millionaires (N=83)

Findings from research by Ben Page and Martin Gilens (Logistic Regression) on policy adoption

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS WHILE MANY DO NOT? Forget about what people want for a second and think about the big picture… What does it do to governability if most Americans don’t vote, give time, or give money? How are changes in technology and micro-targeting impacting social voice? How about changes in campaign finance laws?

Are elections the best kind of participation? What limitations do even democratic elections have on who votes and how? Should ID be required? What registration requirements should there be? Should certain groups be disqualified (e.g., military, homeless, youth, imprisoned, formally imprisoned)? Should voting be mandatory? Should it be made easier? Should there be more direct vs. representative democracy? Are referenda, initiatives, & recalls a good idea now that we have the technology? What positions should be elected? Which shouldn’t? (insulation) What is “deliberative” democratic participation? Should we publicly fund elections? What limitations if any should be have on private expenditures? How—if at all—should we use elections to ensure the political voice of “minorities”?